Marseille boss Genesio eager to keep Sunderland target Paxiao

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Bruno Genesio said Sunderland target Igor Paxiao is not for sale ahead of Marseille’s clash with Monaco.

Sunderland are reportedly pushing to sign Paxiao, who joined Marseille from PSV last year.

Paxiao registered 18 goal involvements for Marseille last term, scoring 12 and laying on six assists.

He ranked second in Marseille’s squad, behind Mason Greenwood, for dribbles attempted (110) and completed (35).

But Genesio is hopeful Paxiao, who is not fit to feature against Monaco on Sunday due to a thigh issue, will stay put.

“No, no, Igor is not being sold,” Genesio insisted.

Any sale could also be complicated by Marseille’s inability to source a replacement for the Brazilian, due to their financial limitations.

Gregory Lorenzi, the club’s sporting director, said: “Even if we sell a player, we will not be allowed to register a signing.

“In practice, several departures would be required before we could make a signing.

“I don’t know if people understand the situation. Letting Igor go is difficult because we may not have the possibility to replace him. It is not a very simple equation to solve.

“I think we need to be clear with everyone. The situation is not easy, but we will fight.”

Marseille enjoyed a fine start to their Ligue 1 campaign last week, thrashing Strasbourg 4-0.

Monaco, meanwhile, beat Le Havre 1-0 in their first outing of 2026-27.

Gearing up for the first away match of the season #ASMOM pic.twitter.com/ygBayn3CWW

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) August 29, 2026

Camara attempted (nine) and completed (seven) the most tackles of any player across MD1, while also winning the most possessions in the middle third (nine).

He has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez.

Gouiri netted twice against Strasbourg. He also scored Marseille’s goal in their 2-1 loss to Monaco back in April.

He has nine top-flight goals in 2026 and could reach 10 in a calendar year for the fourth time, though it would be the first time he has done so in consecutive years (previously 2021, 2023 and 2025).

Monaco have won nine of their 13 Ligue 1 home games against Marseille since returning to the top flight in 2013-14 (L4); only against Nantes (11) have they won more home matches at Stade Louis-II in that period.

And Monaco could win their opening two matches of a Ligue 1 season for the third time in the last four campaigns, as many as they managed in their previous 22 top-flight seasons combined.

Marseille, meanwhile, are looking to start a Ligue 1 season with two consecutive victories for the first time since 2020-21.

But Monaco have won each of their last three Ligue 1 home openers, having failed to win any of the previous five (D4 L1).

Marseille, on the other hand, have lost five of their last seven Ligue 1 away games (W2).

However, Genesio has won each of his last six away matches as a coach in the competition, all while in charge of Lille.

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